In a joint statement, the three European leaders said, "Together, we emphasise our continuing commitment to the JCPoA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]. This agreement remains important for our shared security.

"We urge all sides to remain committed to its full implementation and to act in a spirit of responsibility."

They said the "world is a safer place as a result" of the deal.

"We urge the U.S. to ensure that the structures of the JCPoA can remain intact, and to avoid taking action which obstructs its full implementation by all other parties to the deal."

They also urged "Iran to show restraint in response to the decision by the U.S."

The EU's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said "the European Union will remain committed to the continued full and effective implementation of the nuclear deal."

Giving a televised statement from Rome, she said "the nuclear deal with Iran is crucial for the security of the region, of Europe, and of the entire world.

"The nuclear deal with Iran is the culmination of 12 years of diplomacy. It belongs to the entire international community. It has been working and it is delivering on its goal, which is guaranteeing that Iran doesn’t develop nuclear weapons. The European Union is determined to preserve it."

Earlier, Trump said: "I am announcing today that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal. We will be instituting the highest level of economic sanction."

Trump did not offer details about the reimposition of sanctions, whose structure is complex. But in a conference call with reporters shortly after the president spoke, his national security adviser, John Bolton, himself a fierce critic of Iran, suggested that the president is taking a maximalist path: "The decision that the president signed today puts sanctions back in place immediately ... We're out of the deal."

Boris Jukic

What happens now? Can EU countries continue to trade with Iran without the threat of retaliation from the US administration?

Posted on 5/8/18 | 11:14 PM CET

LaVonne Swyter

Hope the rest of the countries do the same. No need for further negotiation. End of conversation. Move on.

Posted on 5/9/18 | 12:15 AM CET

Priscilla du Bleu

@Boris Jukic
“What happens now? Can EU countries continue to trade with Iran without the threat of retaliation from the US administration?”

Yes, they can. This orange POS has the right to have an opinion on the Iran matter, unfortunately US voters – and comrade Vlad via his poodle Assange / wikileaks – even provided him with the power of withdrawing the US from the deal, but rest assured that the rest of the world is not going to be jumping by his heel …. the drumpf happens to be a temporary phenomenon in present politics. Global politics goes beyond his few years in the WH.